MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 00:01:04| >> :120:29033:29033:
[monks data]
England national football team
European Championship | Group Stage
Jun 16, 2016 at 2pm UK
 
Wales national football team

2-1

Vardy (56'), Sturridge (92')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Bale (42')

Daniel Sturridge wins it for England in Lens

Daniel Sturridge scores a 92nd-minute winner as England come from one goal behind to beat Wales 2-1 in Lens and take control of Group B at Euro 2016.

Daniel Sturridge scored a 92nd-minute winner as England came from behind to beat Wales 2-1 in Lens and take control of Group B at Euro 2016 this afternoon.

A Gareth Bale free kick had left Wales with a 1-0 lead entering the half-time break, but Jamie Vardy and Sturridge both came off the bench to score and secure three vital points for the Three Lions.

Daniel Sturridge celebrates scoring the winning goal during the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Wales on June 16, 2016© Getty Images

As expected, the tempo was extremely high in the early exchanges and it did not take long for Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli to clash inside the Welsh half following a push from the Englishman.

It was England that had the first opening of the match in the seventh minute when Adam Lallana delivered a cross into the path of Raheem Sterling, but the Manchester City attacker somehow fired over the crossbar from close range.

Five minutes later, Wayne Rooney struck one from distance as the end-to-end period of the contest continued, but the Three Lions skipper missed the target under little pressure.

Aaron Ramsey and Chris Smalling in action during the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Wales on June 16, 2016© AFP

The early intensity settled as the 20-minute mark approached, but Wales were struggling to get Bale and Hal Robson-Kanu in the match as England controlled possession of the ball in the middle of the park.

Harry Kane stood over a free kick in the 23rd minute as England had the chance to threaten Wayne Hennessey from a set piece, but the Tottenham striker fired his effort straight into the stands.

Three minutes later, Gary Cahill met a free kick from Rooney as Hennessey was tested once again, but it was a routine save for the Crystal Palace goalkeeper, who was in the correct position to claim.

Ben Davies is hit in the arm by the ball during the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Wales on June 16, 2016© Getty Images

England had a penalty shout in the 32nd minute when Welsh centre-back Ben Davies appeared to handle a cross from Sterling, but the referee was not interested and play continued in Lens.

The Three Lions continued to put the pressure on and Chris Smalling came close with a header from a Rooney corner, but the centre-back's effort just dropped wide of the post.

It was Wales that made the breakthrough in the 42nd minute, however, when Bale struck a long-range free kick into the bottom corner after Rooney had brought Robson-Kanu to the deck. Hart might have saved it, but Bale found a route into the corner with his second goal of the competition.

Gareth Bale celebrates scoring from a free kick during the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Wales on June 16, 2016© Getty Images

England boss Roy Hodgson made two changes at the break, introducing both Sturridge and Vardy for Sterling and Kane, who disappointed in the first 45 minutes.

Sturridge had England's first shot in the second period, but the striker's effort was always moving high of the target as Wales managed to resist an early spell of pressure from the team in white.

Rooney was next to come close for England after bending one towards the bottom corner in the 55th minute, but Hennessey got down well to make a smart save and tip the ball wide of the post.

England were level less than one minute later, however, when Vardy turned home from close range after Ashley Williams had failed to clear a dangerous Sturridge cross from the right.

Chris Gunter and Raheem Sterling during the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Wales on June 16, 2016© AFP

Wales just could not get out of their own half in the 10-minute spell that followed as England continued to put the pressure on the Wales goal, but Sturridge fluffed his lines after finding all sorts of space inside the Wales box.

Both managers made alterations as the match entered its final 20 minutes, with Jonny Williams entering for Wales and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford coming on for his tournament debut.

Bale had a half-chance for Wales 15 minutes from time when he met a deep cross from Neil Taylor, but the Real Madrid attacker's effort was always moving wide of the post as it remained all square in Lens. Jonny Williams was next to have a go for the Welsh, but his strike was too high of Hart's crossbar.

Ben Davies shows his dejection after England equalise during the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Wales on June 16, 2016© Getty Images

Wales dropped deeper and deeper as the match entered its final 10 minutes and the pressure from England went up a few notches as Rashford, Sturridge and Vardy all occupied the forward positions.

Walker continued to receive possession down the England right as Wales retreated, but Gary Cahill headed his team's best chance for some time over the crossbar in the final minute of action.

There was still time for another opportunity, however, and Sturridge bundled his way into the Welsh defence in the second minute of additional time before finding the bottom corner with a smart finish.

Wales will attempt to secure their spot in the next round when they play their final Group B match against Russia on Monday, while new group leaders England will take on Slovakia the same afternoon.

ID:274919: cacheID:274919:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10808:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Joe Hart of Manchester City celebrates his team's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on August 16, 2015
Read Next:
Joe Hart: 'England squad is exciting'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
10am
Cachin
Ofner
10am
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
10am
Gasquet
Sonego
10am
Hanfmann
Mensik
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
10am
Lajovic
Monteiro
10am
Machac
Ruusuvuori
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
10am
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
10am
O'Connell
Arnaldi
10am
Purcell
Giron
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
10am
Tabilo
Cobolli
10am
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
10am
Azarenka
Maria
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
10am
Gauff
Rus
10am
Keys
Camelia-Begu
10am
Podoroska
Navarro
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Altmaier
Fils
10am
Darderi
Fritz
10am
Griekspoor
Daniel
10am
Munar
Struff
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Navone
Rune
10am
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
10am
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
10am
Vekic
Sakkari
11.30am
Arango
Yastremska
11.30am
Osaka
Samsonova
11.30am
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
1pm
Haddad Maia
Errani
2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
2.30pm
Mertens
Stephens
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!